58 Congressman Ask Rogers for U.S. Support of Israeli UN Bid on Georgian Jews

November 25, 1969

WASHINGTON (Nov. 24)

Fifty-eight Congressmen have joined in a bi-partisan appeal to Secretary of State William P. Rogers for United States support of an Israeli request that the United Nations Human Rights Commission take up the case of 18 Jewish families in the Soviet Georgian Republic who have appealed for permission to emigrate to Israel.

In a letter transmitted by Rep. Jonathan Bingham, New York Democrat, the Congressmen urged that the U.S. “join and support” Israel’s effort “to focus international attention and opinion within the framework of the UN on the problem of Soviet anti-Semitism” in the case of the Georgian families. The families appealed to Israel to submit their names and request to the UN. They complained that their applications for emigration permits have been denied by Soviet officials.

The Congressmen’s letter asked the U.S. delegation to the UN to refer the matter for action to UN Human Rights Commission. They also asked for inclusion of the item on the Commission’s agenda and for the U.S. to voice publicly concern over Soviet anti-Semitism in the course of the General Assembly’s debate on human rights.